The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8
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The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8
Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come
Title: The Best is Yet to Come
Scripture: Revelation 1:1-8 NIV
Main commentary help:
Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin
Revelation by Jim Hamilton
Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger
Last week’s title: As We Wait in Uncertain Times, Put Your Hope in Him for All Time (Psalm 146)
This week’s title: “The Best is Yet to Come”
Main idea: “Those who hear and obey God‘s word concerning who Jesus is and what he does will be blessed by the Lord.”
Bottom line: No matter how bad things get, the best is yet to come. And his name is Jesus.
Opening story/illustration
The Matrix
In the sci-fi movie The Matrix, Neo is told that the truth of their world is that they are shielded from reality by an illusion created by machines that control everything. Then Neo is given a choice. He can take the blue pill and forget what he just heard and live on in ignorance asleep to the truth. Or, he can take the red pill and become empowered to live in that true world that true reality.
We have a choice too. Revelation and God’s word tell us that we’re asleep and unable to see the reality of our spiritual condition unless someone opens our eyes with truth. God opens our eyes to see the truth through his word. But we have a choice to believe or not believe. We can remain skeptical and ignore the truth putting our heads back into the sand or we can “swallow the pill” of truth and live in reality fully aware of the dangers that surround us.
Other illustrations:
Persecuted Pastors
Dr. Danny Akin (professor at SEBTS.edu) asked a pastor in a persecuted country what his favorite books of the Bible were. He said Daniel and Revelation. (See story at bottom)
9/11 vs 9/10
What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing? We would start telling people, of course.
There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.
And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.
It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?
Prologue with doxology to introduce this circular letter to the churches.
“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”
Revelation 1:1 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.1.niv
Revelation = unveiling, revealing
Apocalypse = unveiling how it all ends
From God—>to Jesus—>to the angel—>to John—>to the 7 churches—>to the rest of the churches in that day—>to the universal church—>to us and our churches—>His servants = us
“Soon take place” means this could happen at any time.
We’re lulled to sleep because it hasn’t come in 2,000+ years so we think what’s one more day.
But whenever it does happen, we’ll feel that way. Is that the mindset you want? Really?
“who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 1:2 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.2.niv
Word of God= truth; do you believe?
Testifies to what he saw (and heard) in his visions on the island of Patmos around AD 90 (60 years after the resurrection)
It’s all about Jesus Christ
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”
Revelation 1:3 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.3.niv
To obey this because you want to. Glad obedience from the inside.
Not like when you’re asked to take out the trash. You do it, but your heart isn’t into it. That’s not what “take it to heart” means.
What will Revelation call us to do?
Act justly
Love mercy
Walk humbly with our God
Glorify and worship God for his justice and his mercy
Walk in hope believing that the best is yet to come no matter what we’re going through now
When?
The “time is near” reminds us of the urgency and posture in which we are to live. Like in the time of the Passover, we live with our shoes on, our bags packed, ready to roll. It’s living in this world holding everything loosely except his word.
“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,”
Revelation 1:4 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.4.niv
Grace and peace - the order matters; Know Grace, know peace. No grace, no peace.
Peace = complete wholeness and holiness
Number 7 is used a lot by John; complete or all; comprehensive
Describes Jesus here as timeless One and king/Lord
“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,”
Revelation 1:5 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.5.niv
Who is God...who is Jesus and what has he done/is he doing?
Jesus called “the faithful witness”
“The firstborn from the dead” - who is second, third...us!
“Ruler of the kings of the earth” - sovereign
Love - “loves us”
“Freed us from our sins by his blood” - the lamb of God who was our substitutionary atonement on the cross
Many reasons to worship/revere/fear him already
“and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 1:6 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.6.niv
Who are we and what do we get to do?
He anoints us as kingdom priests. What do priests do?
Represent God before people
Represent people before God
The makes him worthy of all praise forever!
““Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.”
Revelation 1:7 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.7.niv
Greg Stier likes to say, “Keep your eyes on the clouds ️ and on the crowds.”
Clouds - watching and ready for Jesus’ imminent return
Crowds - to be a witness in the meantime; a sacrificial lamb among wolves
Everyone will see him - even those who know and reject
Everyone will mourn him
For their sin
For their loss
“So shall it be! Amen.” It is certain.
““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.””
Revelation 1:8 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.8.niv
Beginning and the end (outside of time)
Timeless One
End of prologue
Conclusion
Think about some of our several sermon series titles from last year. And I am not this good:
Joy No Matter (what)
As We Wait (for his return)
The Best is Yet to Come (His name is Jesus)
Undeserved Grace
Better Together
Jesus Manifesto
As we wait for his return, we walk better together in joy and undeserved grace no matter what our circumstances because the best is yet to come and his name is Jesus.
Am I ready?
Do I believe this yet?
Am I prepared to take to heart what is written here today?
Will I worship God for his justice and mercy in our world?
Will I love God and love people by mercifully and gently giving people the reason for the hope that I have? (1 Peter 3:15)?
9/11 vs 9/10: What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing?
There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.
And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.
It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
These are not rhetorical questions. Take some time to stop and pray right now.
Let’s pray. Amen.
Basic outline of the book
The Christ of...
Communication - he is the God who reveals his will to his people.
The Churches (vision)
The Cosmos (vision)
Conquest (vision)
Consummation (vision)
Challenge
Theme:
“The majesty and glory of the warrior lamb, King Jesus, who is coming again to rule and reign forever!”
Notes:
Intro/Prologue (1:1-3)
Doxology (1:4-6)
”The revelation” or unveiling of the mystery of who God is and what he’s up to. (Hint: Kingdom of God in our world)
We’re called “servants” which is someone who gladly serves his master no matter what the task or cost.
Seems like v. 1 is the purpose: (1-2)
To reveal, unveil the word/testimony of God
From God the Father
To and through Jesus Christ
Through an angel
To John
To the Churches in that day
To us, the universal Church
What must soon take place/happen in our world
To servants of Jesus Christ i.e. the Church
v. 3 The beatitudes
the person...
who reads/listens to this prophecy aloud (to hear, believe and take to heart)
w/ urgency (time is near)
”Unveiled/revealed will of God to bless
“revelation: God’s will is to bless his people”
Revelation: Encouraged by victory
“He is the God who communicates his will to his people.”
Title as truth: God reveals his will to his people.
vv. 4-6 Writing to (audience) the 7 churches (representing all the churches forever) of Asia Minor.
Grace + Peace
Who is God?
God, the Father, Timeless One
Jesus Christ, Messiah/King, Faithful son, firstborn from the dead, resurrected one
Holy Spirit, 7 spirits
Jesus also...
freed us from our sins, by his blood
loves us
made us a kingdom of priests to serve
worthy of all our praise
eternal one
Who is coming again
from the heavens...in the clouds...every eye...
conviction and repentance
beginning and end
Almighty God
Who he is and what he does...who we are and what we get to do (make list)